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UMN Extension and NDSU Extension to host drainage water management workshop on March 18, 2026 in Fargo ND

North Dakota State University Extension and University of Minnesota Extension will jointly host a drainage water management workshop on March 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Memorial Union on NDSU’s campus in Fargo, North Dakota. The in-person workshop is designed to help farmers and agricultural professionals better understand drainage systems and make informed drainage management decisions. This one-day event will focus on how subsurface (tile) drainage works, the basics of drainage design, and the performance and economic returns of drainage investments. Participants will also learn how soil characteristics influence drainage suitability and what factors should be considered before installing drainage systems. Properly designed tile drainage systems are long-term investments that can significantly enhance field performance and water management. This workshop brings together leading drainage experts to share science-based knowledge and practical insights that will help participant...
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Looking ahead to spring manure: ManureDB, research updates & best practices for MN farmers

Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast  we discuss all things manure as we head into spring. Our three manure nutrient management specialists and researchers talk about recent updates to ManureDB (the online manure database). Why was ManureDB created, and what makes it a helpful tool for farmers and producers? What's the status of current and future manure research projects? How can Minnesota farmers partner with the University of Minnesota manure team for on-farm research projects? What are some top-of-mind best practices for sampling and safety as we head into the growing season? All of that and much more on today's show. Read the full transcript Guests: Melissa Wilson, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Eduardo Garay Lagos, manure research manager (St. Paul) Nancy Bohl Bormann, manure nutrient management researcher (St. Paul) Additional Resources: Introducing ManureDB: A new way to view manure variability and trends  Manure M...
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Is sulfur a mobile nutrient? Carryover, soybean needs, and S fertilizer product differences

By: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist One thing I hear a lot from people is that sulfate, the form of sulfur available to plants, does not hang around in the soil from one year to the next. In most soils, the rate at which sulfur leaches is much slower compared to nitrogen in the nitrate form (the exception being sandy soils which can quickly leach most nutrients). While it is true that sulfate has a negative charge and can be leached, the rate of leaching really depends on the soil. What does current research say about how sulfate carries over in Minnesota soils? Currently, I have multiple research projects funded by both the Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) and the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council studying how sulfur carries over in our soils. In my AFREC-funded long-term sulfur trial, we applied sulfur over a period of four years in continuous corn. In year five, we divided the plots where sulfur was applied into tw...
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MN CropCast: Unlocking the soybean genome with Dr. Bob Stupar

In this edition of Minnesota CropCast (Episode #57), hosts Dave Nicolai and Seth Naeve sit down with Dr. Bob Stupar, Professor of Agronomy and Plant Genetics and Legume Geneticist at the University of Minnesota. The conversation traces Bob’s unique path from suburban Milwaukee to his current role leading legume genetics and genomics research at the U. The group takes a shallow dive (cannonball?) into the complex world of soybean engineering. Dr. Stupar explains the critical process of identifying genes of interest, validating their functionality, and engineering soybeans to possess important, novel traits. He also highlights the importance of maintaining and updating reference genomes—the essential "blueprints" for scientific advancement—using historical examples to illustrate their impact. Additionally, the discussion covers how gene editing is being used to improve quality traits, such as reducing antinutritional components in soybeans. Despite these technical achievements...
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Improving waterhemp control by managing spray water pH

Eric Yu, UMN Extension Crops Educator, Ryan Miller, UMN Extension Crops Educator Most spray solutions are more than 95% water, yet water quality is rarely considered when herbicide performance comes-up short. The pH of that water and the minerals dissolved in it can directly influence how well an herbicide works once it is sprayed. Certain dissolved cations, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, can tie up herbicides, and alkaline water can reduce how readily some products move into plant leaves. The good news is that these issues are manageable with simple water testing and the use of water conditioners or pH-buffering adjuvants. Study Location and Treatments A 2025 field study conducted in Rochester, Minnesota, evaluated how spray water pH adjustment, and the timing of spray solution mixing, affected waterhemp control in a corn herbicide program. All treatments included a tank mix of atrazine and Acuron GT (applied at either full or half rate) with NIS and AMS. Treatments differed by...
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Strategic Farming: Let's talk crops! session talked forecasting tools for crop and pest management

By Angie Peltier and Anthony Hanson, UMN Extension educators, and Jochum Wiersma, UMN Extension small grains agronomist February 11, 2026’s Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops session discussed numerous forecasting tools to aid producers in crop, pest and disease management. This webinar series runs through March and registrations are still being accepted: https://extension.umn.edu/courses-and-events/strategic-farming.  To watch this episode visit: http://z.umn.edu/StrategicFarmingRecordings . Cold-weather impacts overwintering insect pests Those pests that cause problems for Minnesota’s agronomic crops that are also able to survive our harsh winter weather conditions use numerous survival strategies. Ice crystal formation is what causes cold-weather-related mortality and many of the survival strategies are related to avoiding the formation of ice crystals. Similar to motor vehicles, which require antifreeze for their engines to work properly in cold weather, insects also require t...
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Help the Crops Team fine-tune programming!

We want to hear from row crop and forage producers and agriculture professionals who work with producers! The University of Minnesota Extension Crops team would like to better understand the educational needs and wants of our row crop and forage producers. To customize our educational programs to the interests and preferences of producers, we would appreciate your input in following survey. We would also like to hear from crop consultants, seed salespeople, pesticide applicators, grain buyers, and other agriculture professionals who work with crop growers. This survey is anonymous and should take 12-15 minutes to complete. The University of Minnesota Extension Crops Team would like to learn more about your operation, learning preferences, and how you want to engage with Extension. Your responses will help the Crops Team develop and deliver programming that meets your needs. Please complete this needs assessment survey ( https://z.umn.edu/CropsNeedsSurvey ). Your input will help us ref...
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